Denmark’s national planning appeals board has annulled Næstved Municipality’s local plan for a hotel with 117 rooms and 143 homes in the central Rådmandshaven park.
The annulment was reported on September 26 by DR. Næstved City Council adopted the local plan in May 2026. About four months later, Planklagenævnet has set the plan aside.
According to DR, the board annulled the plan following complaints from neighbors, in particular about noise. TV2 Øst, which obtained the decision through a freedom of information request, reported the outcome. The plan would have allowed a hotel with 117 rooms and 143 new homes in the park.
Before the council vote, more than 2,000 signatures were collected in protest against the project. Local resident Ruth Hansen, one of the complainants, said noise was not her main concern. Per DR, she pointed to the park, which dates from 1983, and its old trees.
Municipality reviewing the decision
Mayor Kenneth Sørensen of Venstre said he would not comment on the next step so soon after receiving the decision. He said the local plan is temporarily on hold. The municipality will return with an answer once it has examined the case, he told DR.
Sørensen added that the municipality is taking the complaints into account and will assess how to proceed. As reported by DR, the annulment does not necessarily mean the end of the project. The mayor said he is aware of the dissatisfaction among local residents.
The May 2026 adoption was carried by a majority of Venstre, the Conservatives, Radikale Venstre, the Social Democrats and part of Dansk Folkeparti. SF, Liberal Alliance and part of Dansk Folkeparti voted against. DR notes that the project caused significant political disagreement in the council.
The dispute peaked during last year’s municipal election, according to DR. Politicians at the town hall in Næstved had expected the May decision to close the matter. Hansen said the case created considerable unrest in the town.
Hansen said she is relieved by the board’s decision but does not expect it to be the final word. She said she anticipates either a new local plan or a withdrawal by the investor. The visualizations of the project were produced by Udviklingsselskabet Rådmandshaven.
